A3000

After the strong users' feedback about the very successful first series machines, Acorn decided to produce a version of its Archimedes that was closer to home and semi-professional users pockets, adopting a more usual and compact form factor than previous models, supplied in the typical three-piece configuration, i.e. the models belonging to the series 300, 400 and 500 that, in my humble opinion, were beautiful.
Also inspired by the success of the Amiga and Atari ST, Acorn decided to adopt the familiar solution of the PC-keyboard shape, and thus the model A3000 was born, and recently joined my collection. 🙂

The attempt (successful) to contain the costs for the end user, found application in reducing the maximum amount of memory available to the system, in the absence of an hard disk controller, in the limited expansion capabilities, even in the absence of a serial port, that was provided as disabled, because the management was delegated to special chip to be installed in the appropriate sockets on the motherboard, that had to be purchased as an additional option. Continue Reading →